The seventh meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process
on Oceans
and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS-7 or Consultative Process) opened on
Monday, 12 June 2006, at UN headquarters in New York. Delegates convened
in a plenary session in the morning, addressing organizational matters
and exchanging views on areas of concern and actions needed. In the
afternoon, a Discussion Panel on ecosystem approaches and oceans was
held.

Monday, 12 June

Opening Plenary

Co-Chair Lori Ridgeway, Canada, noted the Consultative Process's
growing importance on the global agenda, and stressed the importance of
thinking of the ecosystem approach as an integrating framework instead
of a "paradigm shift."

Co-Chair Cristián Maquiera, Chile, emphasized that UNICPOLOS-7
outcomes must be practical and suitable for national implementation.

Renée Sauvé, Canada, underscored that significant progress
can be made towards implementation of the ecosystem approach despite
the lack of a consensus definition.

Stuart Beck, Palau, noted that lack of knowledge cannot justify
inaction, and called for an interim moratorium on bottom trawling in
areas where no competent Regional Fisheries Management Organizations
(RFMOs) exist.

Speaking for the EU, Thomas Loidl, Austria, said
oceans management should include: measurable ecosystem objectives;
impact assessments; monitoring; the application of precaution; and the
use of tools such as integrated coastal zone management and
marine protected areas.

Felicity Buchanan, New Zealand, suggested that the Consultative Process
not attempt to reach agreement on a single definition of the ecosystem
approach, preferring to focus on identifying experiences and initiatives
that can improve sustainable marine management.

Margaret Hayes, United States, noted the US Ocean Action Plan's goal
of achieving a national ecosystem-based approach on making decisions
related to water, land and resource management; and promotion of the use
of the Large Marine Ecosystems concept.

Carlos Duarte, Brazil, stressed the lack of an internationally agreed
definition of the ecosystem approach and its link to the precautionary
principle. He noted his country's proposal to establish a whale
sanctuary in the South Atlantic.

Philip Burgess, Australia, welcomed the three-year renewal of
UNICPOLOS' mandate, and emphasized the importance of input from
industry, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, and States. He stated
that ecosystem approaches should manage human impacts upon ecosystems,
rather than attempt to manipulate ecosystems.

Wang Zonglai, China, suggested addressing the improvement of
coordination and cooperation among the various departments and
industries at all levels, called for detailed research on individual
ecosystems, and taking into account political and legal aspects of the
ecosystem approach.

Anna Lyubalina, Russian Federation, highlighted the importance of the
ecosystem approach to ocean management, noting that UNICPOLOS-7's key issues
are closely related to the Global Marine Assessment process. She drew
attention to the need for an ecosystem approach to utilize traditional
and climatic information when assessing the marine environment.

Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway, emphasized that the greatest threats to
marine environments occur in areas within national jurisdiction, which
can be met by implementing the existing legal framework. He called upon
RFMOs to address destructive practices and update their mandates to
include biodiversity conservation measures and ecosystem approaches.

Resfel Pino, Cuba, called for capacity building and technology transfer
for developing countries, and asked for greater consideration of developing
country experiences in implementing ecosystem approaches to marine management.

Mexico highlighted the recent drafting of its oceans and coasts
environmental policy and the importance of increased participatory
processes to facilitate ecosystem conservation and management. He noted
a number of initiatives to increase environment information on marine
ecosystems.

Side Event: The Ecosystem Approach: Practical steps for its
implementation

At lunchtime, IUCN - The World Conservation Union and the Government of
Palau presented a side event on practical steps for implementing the
ecosystem approach. Noah Idechong, member of Palau's House of
Delegates, spoke on Palau's approach to marine conservation. Kristina
Gjerde, High Seas Policy Advisor, IUCN, addressed the ecosystem approach
in deep waters and open oceans. Arlo Hemphill, Conservation
International, launched a special issue of PARKS Magazine on the subject
of High Seas Marine Protected Areas.

Discussion Panel on Ecosystem Approaches and Oceans Implementation

Salvatore Arico, UNESCO, noted the minimal implementation of the
ecosystem approach in open ocean and deep sea environments and
highlighted the need for stakeholder analysis in this respect. He said
the foundation of the ecosystem approach provides management solutions
and emphasized that there is no single way to implement ecosystem
approach.

Simon Cripps, World Wildlife Fund, stressed the need for immediate
catalytic steps to implement ecosystem approaches, despite
the lack of perfect knowledge. He said ecosystem based management is not
a tool for manipulating ecosystems to a lowest common denominator by
eliminating natural predators, stressing instead that it restores
ecosystem health and therefore restores target fish populations and
predators alike.

Hiroyuki Matsuda, Yokohama National University, stated that maximum
sustainable yield (MSY) theory ignores that ecosystems are uncertain,
non-equilibrium and complex. He stressed that a simple model with errors
is better than complex ecological modelling. Through mathematical models
he demonstrated that: MSY does not guarantee species coexistence;
target switching is a better fishing policy approach than not switching;
and that adaptive species management is sometimes needed.

Steven Murawski, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
spoke on the "Top Ten Myths Concerning Ecosystem Approaches
to Ocean Resource Management." In particular, he emphasized that
ecosystem approaches have already been extensively defined and
implemented in formal and informal ways at national and international
levels.

On the implementation of the ecosystem approach, the Convention on
Biological Diversity highlighted the development of an Ecosystem
Approach Sourcebook.

Matthew Gianni, Natural Resources Defense Council, noted the existence
of the principles to implement the ecosystem approach and stressed the
need to integrate them to effectively govern all human activities.